Carrying case having detachable step stool

ABSTRACT

A carrying case assembly includes a carrying case portion provided with a first interior cavity and a first top opening and a step stool portion provided with a second interior space and a bottom opening. The bottom of the step stool portion is attached to the top of the carrying case portion such that the first and the second interior space, together, form a third interior space. The step stool portion is removable from the carrying case portion and is adapted to support a person thereon.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to carrying cases and, more particularly,to carrying cases for components of a collapsible display.

Display wall arrangements are well known and are commonly used insituations such as conventions for the display of company advertising,etc. Because many functions during which such display wall arrangementsare used are relatively short-lived, and because most of the locationsin which such display wall arrangements are used are intended for manypurposes, such as sporting events, conventions, concerts, etc.,collapsible, movable, reusable display walls are a popular alternativeto more expensive, less versatile permanent walls.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,512,097, 4,800,663, and 4,970,841, for example, teachcollapsible display frameworks suitable for covering with fabric orgraphic panels. The fabric, usually a carpet-like fabric, is removablefrom the framework and is rolled up, and the framework collapses and isable to be broken into several small bundles. The framework bundles andfabric rolls are relatively easy to transport and can be quickly erectedwhen needed.

The framework bundles and fabric rolls, as well as other items desiredfor a particular display, are often shipped to their destinations.Frequently, to prevent damage to the rolls of fabric framework covers,such as crushing or tearing, the fabric parts of the displays areshipped separately from the framework. Collapsible displays are oftenshipped in special carrying cases, which are themselves well known.

Because certain popular shippers have maximum weight and sizeregulations for shipped articles, where the total weight of theframework and fabric bundles for a particular display exceeds themaximum weight regulations of the shipper, the framework and fabricbundles are shipped in two or more separate packages. In many instances,three packages, two for the framework bundles and one for the separatelyshipped fabric cover, are often necessary to ship a complete display,even where the total weight of the display is no greater than themaximum weight for two packages. It is, accordingly, desirable toprovide a lightweight carrying case for shipping and easily moving acollapsible display in which both rolled fabric covers and frameworkbundles for forming the display are able to be safely shipped together.

Once a collapsible display has arrived at its destination, it isgenerally necessary to maneuver its components through congested aisles.While the displays are relatively light in weight, a small person mayhave difficulty in moving the components of the display to a particularlocation, particularly if moving multiple packages, each packed to itsmaximum weight limit, is involved. Accordingly, it is desirable toprovide carrying cases facilitating maneuvering of components of acollapsible display wall.

While collapsible display walls are available in a range of sizes andshapes, the walls generally tend to be around eight feet high whenerected. Accessories such as lighting and display graphics are oftenattached to the upper regions of the display walls. Attaching suchaccessories to the upper regions of the display walls can presentdifficulties, particularly for shorter persons. Generally, it isnecessary for such persons to obtain a step ladder to safely attach theaccessories. Step ladders will often not be readily available on thepremises. However, shipping a separate step ladder with the collapsibledisplay wall adds to expense. Further, once used, the step ladder isunnecessary and in the way. As a result, unsafe substitutes for a stepladder are often used, such as chairs, tables, etc., and accidentsresult. It is, accordingly, desirable to provide an inconspicuous meansfor safely facilitating access to upper regions of a collapsible displaywall, shippable with the display wall, that does not add to shippingcosts.

Packing and unpacking of the components of a collapsible display wall ina carrying case can be difficult for a smaller person. For example,where the carrying case has a top opening for receiving the roll offabric cover, it may be difficult for a smaller person to lift the rollto a sufficient height to place the roll in the carrying case or removethe roll from the carrying case. It is, accordingly, desirable toprovide a carrying case that permits fabric rolls and other componentsof the collapsible display wall to be easily placed in or removed fromthe carrying case.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a carrying caseassembly with detachable step stool includes a carrying case portionincluding one or more first side walls, the first side walls defining afirst interior space and a first top opening. The assembly furtherincludes a step stool portion including a top portion and one or moresecond side walls, the second side walls defining a second interiorspace and a bottom opening. Means are provided for attaching the stepstool portion to the carrying case portion such that the first and thesecond interior spaces, together, form a third interior space. The stepstool portion is removable from the carrying case portion and is adaptedto support a person thereon.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a portabledisplay assembly includes a framework assembly, the framework assemblybeing adapted to be erected into a self supporting, upright wall, theframework assembly being adapted to be collapsed into one or morebundles. Cover material is provided for covering the framework assemblyin an erected condition, the cover material being removable from theframework and being adapted to be rolled into a roll. A carrying caseassembly with a detachable step stool is also provided. The carryingcase assembly includes a carrying case portion including one or morefirst side walls, the first side walls defining a first interior spaceand a first top opening. The carrying case assembly also includes a stepstool portion including a top portion and one or more second side walls,the second side walls defining a second interior space and a bottomopening. Means are provided for locking the step stool portion to thecarrying case portion such that the first and the second interiorspaces, together, form a third interior space, the third interior spacebeing of sufficient size to store the bundles for forming the frameworkand the roll of covering material. The step stool portion is removablefrom the carrying case portion and is adapted to support a personthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention are well understoodby reading the following detailed description in conjunction with thedrawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying case according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front side view of a carrying case according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of a carrying case according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear side view of a carrying case according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of a carrying case according to an embodimentof the present invention, showing the step stool portion of the carryingcase removed from the bottom portion;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a step stool portion of a carrying caseaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a step stool portion of a carrying caseaccording to an embodiment of the present invention in which the lid isopened;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a step stool portion of a carrying caseaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a carrying case according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG 10 is a bottom view of a carrying case according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a bottom portion of a carrying case accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are top views of a bottom portion of a carryingcase according to an embodiment of the present invention includingpanels defining vertical cavities in the carrying case;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pair of carrying cases concealed by acounter assembly and arranged in front of a collapsible display wall;and

FIGS. 14A-14C are perspective, top, and exploded perspective views of alighting case according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A carrying case 21 according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is seen in FIG. 1. The carrying case 21 includes a lower caseportion 23 attachable to an upper step stool portion 25. The carryingcase is preferably substantially square or rectangular and has a frontside 27 (FIG. 2), a right side 29 (FIG. 3), a rear side 31 (FIG. 4), anda left side 33 (FIG. 5). The overall dimensions of the carrying case arepreferably no larger than the overall dimensions allowable for shipmentby common delivery services. The presently preferred overall dimensionsof the carrying case are approximately 16 in. (41 cm.) wide byapproximately 16 in. (41 cm.) deep by approximately 41.5 in. (105 cm.)high.

As seen in FIG. 5, the step stool portion 25 is removable from the caseportion 23 to serve as a step stool useful for such purposes asadjusting lights and display graphics on conventional collapsibledisplay walls such as the display wall disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,512,097, 4,800,663, and 4,970,841, and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/088,897, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the step stool 25 preferablyincludes a substantially flat-topped lid 35 attached by a hingearrangement 36 to the left side 33' of the step stool 25.

As seen in FIG. 7, the lid 35 covers a top cavity 37 of the step stool25 into which a left and a right latch handle 39 and 41 extend throughleft and right slots 43 and 45 through a bottom wall 47 of the topcavity from a lower cavity 49 of the step stool, seen in FIG. 8. Leftand right latch portions 51 and 53 are attached to inner left and rightwalls 55 and 57 of the lower cavity 49 for latching with correspondingleft and right latch portions 59 and 61 attached to upper left and rightedges 63 and 65 of walls defining a cavity 67 in the case portion 23, asseen in FIG. 9, to secure the case portion and the step stool portion 25together. A lock 69 is preferably provided on the step stool 25 to lockthe lid 35 in a closed position over the top cavity 37. A latch (notshown) may also be provided on the lid 35 for keeping the lid closed insituations where it may not be desired to lock the lid.

The step stool 25 is capable of safely supporting the weight of aperson, and conforms with all applicable regulations pertinent to stepstools. Overhanging corners of the lid 35 are reinforced with cornerblocks 71 to prevent flexing of the lid. Except for hardware such as theabove-mentioned latches and locks, the step stool 25, including the lid35, is, like the case portion 23, preferably formed from a sturdyplastic material, preferably by a molding process. The step stoolportion 25 is preferably approximately 13.25 in. (34 cm.) high, which isunderstood to be a sufficient height for a person standing on the stepstool portion to comfortably reach the top of an eight foot high displaywall. The step stool portion 25 may, of course, be any desired height,subject to limitations imposed by the above-mentioned regulations.

As seen in FIG. 10, the case portion 23 is preferably provided withwheels 73 mounted on axles 75 extending through holes 77 provided inribs 79 on the bottom wall 81 of the case portion. The wheels 73facilitate easy maneuvering of the carrying case 21. A portion 83 of atleast one of the axles 75 is preferably exposed to serve as a handle forcarrying the carrying case 21 horizontally, such as when it is necessaryto move the carrying case down a flight of stairs. A collapsible handle85, as seen, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, is preferably provided onthe rear side 31" of the case portion 23 to further facilitate carryingthe carrying case horizontally, or for pulling the carrying case in itsnormal vertical condition. Additional handles (not shown) may also beprovided on other sides of the carrying case 21. The wheels 73 arepreferably partially disposed in recesses 87 in the bottom wall 81 tominimize the overall dimensions of the carrying case, however, ifdesired, other types of wheels, such as caster-type wheels adapted topivot, may be provided.

A latch 89 is preferably provided on the upper front side 27" of thecase portion 23, near the right side 29, and a latch 91 is preferablyprovided on the lower rear side 31" of the case portion, near the rightside. A hasp 90 is preferably provided on the upper front side 27" ofthe case portion 23, near the left side 33, and a hasp 92 is preferablyprovided on the lower rear side 31" of the case portion, near the leftside. The latches 89 and 91 mate with or hitch onto hasps 90 and 92 onother ones of the carrying cases and facilitate maneuvering multipleones of the carrying cases together.

When the step stool portion 25 and the case portion 23 are attached toone another, the lower cavity 49 of the step stool portion and thecavity 67 of the case portion, together, define a cavity of sufficientsize to contain a roll 68' of fabric (usually a carpet-like fabric) forcovering a collapsible framework, as well as several bundles 68" ofcollapsed framework, as seen in FIG. 9. As seen in FIG. 11, the cavity67 of the case portion 23 preferably includes a front and a reararc-shaped wall portion 93 and 95. Left and right wall portions 97 and99 are also provided below the left and right latch portions 59 and 61and are preferably rounded near the bottom wall 81 of the case portion23 and become substantially straight near the upper left and right edges63 and 65, respectively.

The front and rear wall portions 93 and 95 and the left and right wallportions 97 and 99 define a substantially circular central cavity 67' ofthe cavity 67 for receiving a roll 68' of fabric material for covering acollapsible display wall. The substantially circular shape of thecentral cavity 67' facilitates maintaining the shape of the roll 68' offabric and keeping the roll in position during transport, as the rollwill generally unravel to fill the allowable space.

As seen, for example, in FIG. 12A, the front and rear wall portions 93and 95 and the left and right wall portions 97 and 99 further preferablydefine four substantially triangular corner cavities 67". Verticalgrooves 101 are defined by the front and rear wall portions 93 and 95and the left and right wall portions 97 and 99 for receiving panels 103,seen in FIGS. 12A and 12C, for isolating the triangular corner cavities67" from the central cavity 67'. The panels 103 further define thesubstantially circular shape of the central cavity 67' and furtherfacilitate maintaining the fabric roll 68' in position and maintainingthe shape of the roll.

Moreover, the isolated corner cavities 67" provide spaces in thecarrying case 21 for containing bundles 68" of collapsed framework insuch a manner that damage to the fabric roll 68' by the framework duringtransport is avoided. Accordingly, where, ordinarily, three packages maybe necessary to safely ship a collapsible display wall, two forframework bundles and other hardware having a total weight in excess ofthe total weight permitted for a single package, and one for the fabricroll, it is possible, with the carrying case 21 according to the presentinvention, to distribute the weight of the framework bundles andhardware between two packages and place the fabric roll or rolls in oneor both packages. A fabric roll 68' packed in the same carrying case 21with bundles 68" of framework is shown in FIG. 9.

The lower cavity 49 of the step stool portion 25 is preferably alsoprovided with arced front and rear wall portions 105 and 107. The frontand rear wall portions 105 and 107 preferably define a larger diametercircular space than the front and rear wall portions 93 and 95. Thelarger diameter circular space simplifies the "blind" placement of thelower cavity 49 of the step stool portion 25 over a fabric roll in thecentral cavity 67', as the fabric roll will have approximately thediameter of the central cavity and will, therefore, be somewhat smallerin diameter than the lower cavity of the step stool portion.

One or more pairs of vertical grooves 109 for receiving opposite edgesof one or more shelf panels 111, seen in FIGS. 12B and 12C, arepreferably also defined by the-front and rear wall portions 93 an 95 andby the left and right wall portions 97 and 99 to define substantiallyrectangular cavities 67"'. The rectangular cavities or spaces 67"' arepreferably larger than the corner spaces 67" and are useful for packingequipment such as signs and framework elements that do not convenientlyfit in the corner spaces. As seen in FIG. 12C, at least some of thevertical grooves preferably function both as the vertical grooves 101for receiving the divider panels 103 and as the vertical grooves 109 forreceiving the shelf panels 111.

The case portion 23 is preferably approximately 30.25 in. (77 cm.) high.By providing the carrying case 21 with a detachable step stool portion25 having an interior cavity 49 for receiving equipment attached to sucha case portion 23, also having an interior cavity 67, a case having alarge total interior volume for packing large amounts of equipment isprovided. Further, the provision of a case portion 23 having arelatively low top facilitates easy access to the top of the caseportion by persons of various heights for purposes of putting a fabricroll or other equipment into or taking the fabric roll or otherequipment out of the cavity 67 in the case portion.

The carrying case 21 may be provided in any desired shape, such as acylindrical case. However, for purposes of shipping, a substantiallybox-shaped carrying case is preferred. The box shape reduces thetendency of the carrying case to roll around and permits a largerinterior volume for the same height, width, and depth dimensions of acylindrical case.

While the carrying case 21 has thus far been described in connectionwith the relatively specific application of carrying a collapsibledisplay wall, it will be understood that the carrying case is useful forcarrying a wide variety of equipment. The panels 103 or shelf panels 111may be used to divide up the interior volume of the carrying case 21 toisolate any number of items from one another. Further, the carrying case21 may be used without the panels 103 or shelf panels 111 to provide asingle, large volume for carrying larger equipment. Upon detaching thestep stool portion 25 from the case portion 23, access to the interiorof the case portion is easily gained by persons of almost all heights.Further, the step stool portion 25 is useful as a step stool for manyother applications other than adjusting equipment at the top of adisplay wall.

As seen in FIG. 13, the carrying case 21 is further useful as a worksurface, i.e., a table, or as a support for a counter assembly 115. Thecarrying case 21 is particularly useful in connection with a counterassembly such as is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/198,774 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,733 and U.S. Design patentapplication Ser. No. 29/018,983, both filed concurrently with thepresent application, the disclosures of both of which are herebyincorporated by reference. In accordance with a preferred embodiment,two adjacent carrying cases 21 and 21 form a pedestal over which thecounter assembly 115 is formed. The counter assembly conceals thecarrying cases 21 and 21 and provides an attractive work station tocomplement a display wall 117. The counter assembly 115 may be packed inthe carrying cases 21 and 21 along with the collapsible display wall117. In addition to providing the attractive workstation, use of thecarrying cases 21 and 21 to support the counter assembly 115 avoids theneed to have drayage remove the carrying cases after the display wall117 has been erected.

As noted above, the carrying case 21 is useful for carrying equipmentother than or in addition to components of a collapsible display wall.As seen, for example, in FIG. 11, the cavity 67 is preferably adapted toreceive the lighting case 68"', seen in FIGS. 14A-14C. As seen in FIG.11, the lighting case 68"' may, for example, be received in a spacedefined by a fabric roll 68'. The lighting case 68"' may also, ofcourse, be shipped in the carrying case 21 by itself.

As seen in FIGS. 14A-14C, the lighting case 68"' includes a first and asecond half 119 and 121. The first and second halves 119 and 121preferably each include a central wall 123 and 125, respectively. Thecentral walls 123 and 125 each include a series of ribs 127 definingrecesses 129 for receiving ribs on the opposite one of the centralwalls. The first and second halves 119 and 121 are preferably attachedto one another by several patches of hook 131 and pile 133 fastenermaterial provided on the central walls 123 and 125.

The lighting case 68"' is preferably hexagonal when assembled. Holes 135and 137 are preferably provided in upper regions of the central walls123 and 125 for forming a carrying handle when the lighting case 68"' isassembled. Panels 139, which are preferably removable, define sixsubstantially triangular vertical spaces 141 for separate packing ofequipment 143 such as lighting equipment. The panels 139 preferablyslope downwardly from the outside of the lighting case 68"' to thecentral walls 123 and 125 to facilitate use of the handle formed by theholes 135 and 137. The panels 139 are preferably held in position insidethe lighting case 68"' by interior corners 145 of the hexagonal case onone edge 147 of the panels and by another edge 149 of another panel onthe opposite edge of the panels.

The lighting case 68"' is preferably manufactured from a single,trapezoidal member (not shown) having the general shape of the first andsecond halves 119 and 121. The trapezoidal member is cut, usually inhalf, to form the trapezoidal first and second halves. The trapezoidalmember may be provided with ribs, such as by being molded with ribs,prior to being cut to form the halves, or the ribs may be applied aftercutting the trapezoidal member. In this manner, it is possible tomanufacture the lighting case 68"' as a molded member through the use ofa single mold.

While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordancewith a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations andchanges may be made therein without departing from the invention as setforth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrying case assembly having a detachable stepstool, comprising:a carrying case portion including one or more firstside walls, the first side walls defining a first interior space and afirst top opening; a step stool portion including a top portion and oneor more second side walls, the second side walls defining a secondinterior space and a bottom opening; means for attaching the step stoolportion to the carrying case portion such that the first and the secondinterior spaces, together, form a third interior space; the step stoolportion being removable from the carrying case portion and being adaptedto support a person thereon; and one or more removable panels fordefining vertical spaces in the first interior space, an interiorsurface of the first side walls being formed with one or more pairs ofvertical grooves for receiving opposite edge portions of the panels. 2.The carrying case assembly having a detachable step stool as set forthin claim 1, wherein the attaching means includes one or more latchassemblies, each latch assembly including a first portion attached tothe carrying case portion and a movable second portion attached to thestep stool portion, the first and second latch assembly portions beingengageable and disengageable when the second latch assembly portions aremoved.
 3. The carrying case assembly having a detachable step stool asset forth in claim 1, wherein the attaching means includes one or morelatch assemblies, each latch assembly including a first portion attachedto the carrying case portion and a second portion attached to the stepstool portion, the first and second latch assembly portions beingengageable and disengageable.
 4. The carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the firstinterior space is defined by four substantially perpendicular first sidewalls, adjacent ones of the four first side walls defining four firstcomers, the grooves including four pairs of divider grooves forreceiving opposite edges of four divider panels, each pair of dividergrooves including a first divider groove on one of each of the sidewails and a second divider groove on an adjacent one of each of the sidewalls, the four divider panels and the four first side walls definingfour substantially triangular vertical spaces and one substantiallycircular vertical space.
 5. The carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool as set forth in claim 4, wherein the secondinterior space defines a larger horizontal area than the substantiallycircular vertical space.
 6. The carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool as set forth in claim 4, wherein the groovesinclude at least one pair of shelf grooves for receiving opposite edgesof a corresponding shelf panel, each pair of shelf grooves including afirst shelf groove on one side wall and a second shelf groove on anopposite one of the side walls, the shelf panel being adapted to dividethe interior space into two rectangular spaces.
 7. The carrying caseassembly having a detachable step stool as set forth in claim 6, whereinthe four pairs of divider grooves are formed such that shelf panels areadapted to be received in pairs of the divider grooves on opposite wallsand divider panels are adapted to be received in pairs of the dividergrooves on adjacent walls.
 8. The carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the firstinterior space is defined by four substantially perpendicular first sidewalls, the grooves including four pairs of shelf grooves for receivingopposite edges of one or more shelf panels, each pair of shelf groovesincluding a first shelf groove on one of each of the side walls and asecond shelf groove on an opposite one of each of the side walls, theshelf panels and the four first side walls defining two or moresubstantially rectangular vertical spaces.
 9. The carrying case assemblyhaving a detachable step stool as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising means for hitching the carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool to another, identical carrying case assemblyhaving a detachable step stool.
 10. The carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool as set forth in claim 1, further comprising meansfor rolling the carrying case.
 11. The carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool as set forth in claim 1, further comprising ahandle provided on an exterior surface of the first side walls.
 12. Acarrying case assembly having a detachable step stool, comprising:acarrying case portion including one or more first side walls, the firstside walls defining a first interior space and a first top opening; astep stool portion including a top portion and one or more second sidewalls, the second side walls defining a second interior space and abottom opening; means for attaching the step stool portion to thecarrying case portion such that the first and the second interiorspaces, together, form a third interior space; and the step stoolportion being removable from the carrying case portion and being adaptedto support a person thereon, wherein the top portion of the step stoolportion is in the form of a lid movably disposed at a second top edge ofthe second side walls, the lid being movable relative to the step stoolportion between an open and a closed position, the lid portion coveringa second top opening in the closed position, and the attaching meansincludes one or more latch assemblies, each latch assembly including afirst portion attached to the carrying case portion and a movable secondportion attached to the step stool portion, the first and second latchassembly portions being engageable and disengageable when the secondlatch assembly portions are moved, movable upper portions of the secondlatch assembly portions for moving the second latch assembly portions toengage and disengage with the first latch assembly portions beingdisposed in the second interior space, access to the second latchassembly portions being obtained by moving the lid portion to the open,position.
 13. The carrying case assembly having a detachable step stoolas set forth in claim 12, wherein the lid portion is pivotably attachedto the step stool portion.
 14. A carrying case assembly having adetachable step stool, comprising:a carrying case portion including oneor more first side walls, the first side walls defining a first interiorspace and a first top opening; a step stool portion including a topportion and one or more second side walls, the second side wallsdefining a second interior space and a bottom opening; means forattaching the step stool portion to the casing case portion such thatthe first and the second interior spaces, together, form a thirdinterior space; the step stool portion being removable from the carryingcase portion and being adapted to support a person thereon; the topportion of the step stool portion being in the form of a lid movablydisposed at a second top edge of the second side walls, the lid beingmovable relative to the step stool portion between an open and a closedposition, the lid portion covering a second top opening in the closedposition; and a lock for locking the lid portion in the closed positionrelative to the step stool portion.
 15. The carrying case assemblyhaving a detachable step stool as set forth in claim 14, furthercomprising a dividing wall in the step stool portion, the dividing wall,the second side walls, and the lid portion defining a cavity, and thedividing wall defining an upper end of the second interior space. 16.The carrying case assembly having a detachable step stool as set forthin claim 14, further comprising one or more removable panels fordefining vertical spaces in the first interior space, an interiorsurface of the first side walls being formed with one or more pairs ofvertical grooves for receiving opposite edge portions of the panels. 17.The carrying case assembly having a detachable step stool as set forthin claim 14, further comprising means for hitching the carrying caseassembly having a detachable step stool to another, identical carryingcase assembly having a detachable step stool.
 18. A portable displayassembly, comprising:a framework assembly, the framework assembly beingadapted to be erected into an upright wall, the framework assembly beingadapted to be collapsed into one or more bundles; cover material forcovering the framework assembly in an erected condition, the covermaterial being removable from the framework assembly and being adaptedto be rolled into a roll; a carrying case assembly having a detachablestep stool includinga carrying case portion including a bottom wall andone or more first side walls, the first side walls defining a firstinterior space and a first top opening, a step stool portion including atop portion and one or more second side walls, the second side wallsdefining a second interior space and a bottom opening, means for lockingthe step stool portion to the carrying case portion such that the firstand the second interior space, together, form a third interior space,the third interior space being of sufficient size to store the bundlesfor forming the framework assembly and the roll of cover material, andthe step stool portion being removable from the carrying case portionand being adapted to support a person thereon.
 19. The portable displayassembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the step stool portion issufficiently high to permit a person supported thereon to reach to a topportion of the framework in the erected condition.
 20. The portabledisplay assembly as set forth in claim 18, further comprising acollapsible counter assembly, the collapsible counter assembly, in acollapsed condition, being adapted to be received in a carrying case,the collapsible counter assembly, in an erected condition, being adaptedto be placed around and supported by the carrying case, the erectedcollapsible counter assembly concealing the carrying case.
 21. Theportable display assembly as set forth in claim 18, further comprising alighting case adapted to be received in the third interior space. 22.The portable display assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein thecarrying case assembly further includes one or more removable panels fordefining vertical spaces in the first interior space, an interiorsurface of the first side walls being formed with pairs of verticalgrooves for receiving opposite edge portions of the panels.
 23. Theportable display assembly as set forth in claim 22, wherein the panelsand wall portions of the carrying case assembly define a substantiallycircular vertical space, and the second interior space defines a largerhorizontal area than the substantially circular vertical space and aportion of the elongated roll of covering material extends upwardly outof the substantially circular vertical space and is receivable in thesecond interior space.